One of the most important features of expanded clay classification is the size, or rather, the size of its grains. Expanded clay with granule sizes from 2 to 40 mm is available on the building materials market.

There are several types of expanded clay:

• expanded clay gravel,
• expanded clay crushed stone,
• expanded clay sand.

Expanded clay sand

Has particles up to 5 mm in size. Sand is obtained by firing the remains of fusible clay or crushing larger pieces of expanded clay mass. This type of expanded clay is used for thermal insulation of interior partitions and floors (together with larger fractions). Expanded clay sand is a good filler for cement mortar and is used in the production of ultra-lightweight concrete.

Expanded clay gravel

Expanded clay gravel is rounded grains with a porous structure ranging in size from 5 to 40 mm. They are formed in pyrogenic furnaces during the expansion of superfusible clay. Expanded clay gravel is frost- and water-resistant, as well as fire-resistant. There are 3 fractions of such expanded clay depending on size:

• expanded clay 5–10 mm,
• expanded clay 10–20 mm,
• expanded clay 20–40 mm.

The higher the fraction, the better the thermal insulation properties of the material.

Expanded clay 0-5 and 5-10

Expanded clay fractions 0-5	Expanded clay fractions 5-10

Expanded clay fraction 5–10 mm is used for the production of expanded clay concrete blocks, or rather, narrow blocks for various partitions. Partition blocks consist of thin elements, which makes it impossible to use expanded clay fractions 10–20 and expanded clay 20–40 mm due to their size. Expanded clay of fraction 5–10 is also used for pouring insulated floor screeds. The use of expanded clay fractions of 10–20 and 20–40 mm in this case will require an increase in the thickness of the screed.

Expanded clay 10-20 and 20-40

Expanded clay fraction 10-20	Expanded clay fraction 20-40

The expanded clay fraction of 10–20 mm is average and is used for insulation of ceilings and floors in buildings. Such granules are rarely used for pouring screeds and producing concrete blocks.

The expanded clay fraction of 20–40 mm belongs to the group of large particles. It is used to insulate basements, roofs, and garage floors. This type of expanded clay gravel is also used for insulation of heating mains.

Expanded clay crushed stone

This type of expanded clay is a filler of arbitrary shape, most often angular. The grain size also varies from 5 to 40 mm. Expanded clay crushed stone is produced by crushing large pieces of expanded clay mass. Crushed stone is used in the production of lightweight concrete, together with other types of expanded clay.

*The price for expanded clay is indicated per m3 (cubic meter), including delivery to the Moscow Ring Road

Expanded clay	General form	Volume in cubic meters				For regular customers
		from 20 up to 35		from 40 up to 100	from 100
		1400 rub.		1100 rub.	1060 rub.	1060 rub.
	Bag	1550 rub.		1330 rub.	1300 rub.	1300 rub.
	in bulk	1400 rub.		1100 rub.	1060 rub.	1060 rub.
	Bag	1550 rub.		1330 rub.	1300 rub.	1300 rub.
	Bag	2350 rub.		2200 rub.	2200 rub.	2200 rub.
	in bulk	2150 rub.		2000 rub.	2000 rub.	2000 rub.

Expanded clay of fraction 10-20 is used for finishing work, in roofing construction, and also serves as a filler in expanded clay concrete mixtures and in the production of expanded clay concrete blocks. This fraction is not the largest and lightest of all those presented, but it has good thermal insulation properties and can be used in almost all areas where expanded clay is needed, this is due to the universal size of the granules.

Price for expanded clay fraction 10-20

Fraction
Product cost per m3
Price of tared expanded clay per piece.
For 1 bag (0.05 m3)
For 1 bag (0.04 m3)

Technical characteristics of expanded clay

LLC "Kushvinsky expanded clay plant"

Expanded clay is produced in accordance with GOST 32496-2013 “Porous aggregates for lightweight concrete”.

The name of indicators	Fraction 20-40mm	Fraction 10-20mm	Fraction 5-10mm	Fraction 0-5mm
1. Bulk density. kg/cub.m
2. Strength, MPa
4.Grain composition,% Complies with GOST	D from 85 to 100	D from 85 to 100	D from 85 to 100 Fact data Sieve 10mm -7- 8% Sieve 5mm-90-92% Pallet -1-2%	D from 85 to 100
5. Thermal conductivity coefficient in the backfill, W/m0 C
6. Frost resistance - brand

There is a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion on the content of natural radionuclides: they meet the requirements of class 1 (A eff not more than 370 Bq/kg).

Expanded clay has different technical characteristics of fractions 20-40 and 10-20. In this article we will consider its properties and varieties, application in construction and in the production of building materials. Despite the emergence of new materials for thermal insulation, this insulation is still in demand. It is impossible to imagine modern construction without the use of expanded clay.

Expanded clay is a natural and environmentally friendly thermal insulation material with a fraction of 10 to 40 mm. The material is obtained by firing special types of clay in high-temperature ovens. This clay swells when heated sharply, resulting in a durable bulk thermal insulation material with low weight, but with a low thermal conductivity coefficient - this property applies to all fractions from 10 to 40 mm.

Expanded clay has some advantages over mineral wool. Most mineral insulation materials decompose and cake over time. Expanded polystyrene emits harmful substances and is a fire hazard. Expanded clay is environmentally friendly, does not decompose, is resistant to moisture and open flame, and has good heat and sound insulation.

This porous material is one of the most effective for thermal insulation, which is in great demand in the production of building materials (expanded clay concrete, lightweight concrete, etc.) and for insulating residential buildings (floors on the first floor of a house, etc.). The main properties are: grain fraction, bulk density and strength. See the photo below for the use of the material.

Varieties of expanded clay

Expanded clay sand has a fraction size from 0.14 to 5 mm. It is used as a filler for concrete and mortars, for thermal insulation of floors and interfloor ceilings with low backfill thickness (up to 50 mm).

Expanded clay gravel has fraction sizes from 5 to 40 mm. It is used as a filler in the production of lightweight concrete, for thermal insulation of horizontal surfaces on roofs and floors.

Expanded clay crushed stone has fraction sizes from 5 to 40 mm. The material is obtained by additional crushing of large pieces of expanded clay, because of this the crushed stone has an irregular and angular shape.

Technical characteristics of expanded clay

In appearance, expanded clay is a round-shaped porous material granules of various sizes. It is used extremely widely in construction today; the main purpose of the material is to insulate structures during construction, as well as to reduce the weight of building materials during their production without loss of strength. See the characteristics of bulk thermal insulation in the table below.

Expanded clay thermal conductivity by fractions

Expanded clay is divided into gravel fractions: 5-10 mm; 10-20 mm; 20-40 mm and sand (0-5 mm). Based on density and strength, gravel is divided into grades from M300 to M700. These numbers indicate bulk density, but do not indicate the strength of the material or its thermal conductivity. Technical characteristics of expanded clay in terms of strength and bulk density:

• Fraction 20-40 mm (M300 - M380) - gravel strength grade P50 - P75
• Fraction 10-20 mm (M400 - M450) - gravel strength grade P75 - P100
• Fraction 5-10 mm (M500 - M550) - gravel strength grade P100 - P125
• Fraction 0-5 mm (M600 - M700) - gravel strength grade P50 - P75

Expanded clay thermal conductivity characteristics

Use of expanded clay in construction

1. Thermal insulation of floors, ceilings, attics, basements;
2. Thermal insulation of strip foundations and blind areas of houses;
3. Thermal insulation of flat roofs, creating a slope on the roof;
4. Production of lightweight concrete;
5. Thermal insulation of soil - lawns and drainage on the site;
6. , in case of repair, expanded clay is reused;
7. Hydroponics, expanded clay creates an optimal microclimate for plant roots.

When laying expanded clay, it should be protected from getting wet and absorbing moisture with a waterproofing film (polyethylene, roofing felt, etc.).

As you can see, the scope of application of this insulation in construction and in the home is diverse, which can be explained by the excellent thermal conductivity, environmental safety and strength of the insulation. In addition, the material is free-flowing and takes any shape; it can be used to fill any medium. When used correctly, it can reduce heat loss in the room by 50-75%.

Expanded clay– material of a wide range of sizes. The diameter of its granules can be 5 mm and reach 40 mm. But the most in demand is the expanded clay fraction of 10-20 mm. This material is widely used in construction, repairs, water and sewerage, and even in gardening and flower growing.

This expanded clay fraction is the best filler for medium and large expanded clay concrete blocks.

Production and characteristics of expanded clay fraction 10-20 mm

Expanded clay, as you know, is produced by firing light clays in special furnaces. As a result of the process, granules measuring 20-40 mm are obtained. Then they are crushed into smaller fractions, including a fraction of 10-20 mm.

Expanded clay of the 10-20 mm fraction is porous granules of irregular shape. The predominant color is burnt red brick and dark gray on chips and cracks. The bulk density of the material ranges from 200-700 kg/m3, the average is 400 kg/m3. Expanded clay of this fraction is durable, lightweight, and has excellent thermal insulation and sound insulation properties. All these characteristics, as well as the relatively low cost, determine the widespread use of this material.

Application of expanded clay fraction 10-20 mm

Scope of application of expanded clay fraction 10-20 mm:

• production of expanded clay concrete and expanded clay concrete blocks;
• arrangement of dry and wet screeds;
• thermal insulation and sound insulation of premises for various purposes;
• protection of water pipes and sewerage from freezing;
• covering for pedestrian paths.

Also, French expanded clay 10-20 mm is popular among gardeners, as it insulates plant roots well and helps create a good drainage system.

Conclusion

Expanded clay of the 10-20 mm fraction is universal; it is necessary in almost all areas in which expanded clay is used in general.

This is a building material that looks like crushed stone or gravel, made by firing clay or clay slate for half an hour under a temperature range of 1,000 to 1,300 degrees. The result is a light and porous raw material, characterized by oval shapes. This is expanded clay, the fractions, features and characteristics of which will be discussed below.

The parameters for expanded clay are determined by GOST, which regulates the quality of building materials with a porous structure. Let's look at the main properties in more detail:

• fractional composition. Three fractions were identified, varying in the ranges of 5 – 10, 10 – 20, 20 – 40 mm. Fractions that are rarely used in construction are included in a separate category. These include crushed stone and expanded clay granules with fractions from 2.5 to 10 mm, a wide mixed fraction of 5 – 20 mm. Thermal insulation layers used as bulk material are represented by a mixture of all expanded clay samples, the fractions of which are 5 – 40 mm. This is explained by the need to fill void areas in order to increase the rigidity of the structure and eliminate convection of air flows;
• density grade. Seven values ​​are set, the data of which is given in the table:

M 700 and M 800 are not produced for general consumption; this requires prior agreement with the customer. The true density indicator exceeds the bulk value by one and a half to two times. This parameter characterizes the density of expanded clay, without taking into account the intermediate areas between individual granules or fragments;

• strength of the material. Expanded clay gravel has thirteen grades with different strength indicators after compression in a cylinder. For crushed stone, eleven values ​​are standardized with the same abbreviation as for gravel grades. At the same time, crushed stone and gravel of the same brand have differences in strength. It should be noted that as the density of the material increases, its strength increases. There is also a mutual relationship between brands, regulated by standards, which completely eliminates the preparation of low-quality expanded clay with a high density indicator, but which immediately collapses under light loads;
• compaction coefficient. This value is agreed with the customer and does not exceed the value of 1.15. It is used to take into account the compaction of the mass of material obtained from transportation or storage, which often happens with fine-fraction expanded clay. The need to use such a coefficient is caused by frequent shipments of materials using the bulk method, which is very convenient for selling large volumes;
• thermal conductivity. An important parameter characterizing the level of thermal insulation of the material. For expanded clay this coefficient is 0.10 – 0.18. The range is quite narrow, which once again confirms the high thermal insulation qualities of the raw materials. This coefficient increases with increasing density, which is explained by a reduction in the number and size of porous areas that contain air;
• moisture absorption. Another important indicator that determines the behavior of expanded clay when exposed to a humid environment. The material is considered a sustainable raw material, the water absorption value is 8 – 20 percent;
• sound insulation. Like many other thermal insulation materials, expanded clay is characterized by increased sound insulation. The best results are achieved by laying a layer on a wooden floor, using expanded clay as a layer separating the outer surface of the floor and the floor pit;
• resistance to low temperatures. Since the basis of expanded clay is clay, and the level of water absorption of the material is low, the raw material has a high frost resistance. In numerical terms, the standards are not standardized, because expanded clay resists low temperatures “by default.”

Types of factions

Based on their shape, external characteristics and manufacturing technology, expanded clay fractions are divided into several types.

Small

Fine particles, which are by-products obtained during firing or crushing of the material, are used as porous fillers.

Sand of fraction 0 – 5 mm has become an excellent alternative for replacing simple quartz sand in solutions, which increases the coefficient of their thermal conductivity. This means that the mortar used in masonry work, based on expanded clay material, is several times warmer than the sand-cement composition that is familiar to everyone.

Average

Expanded clay gravel is one of the most popular building materials. It is represented by rounded grains, the sizes of which reach 10 – 20 mm. Gravel is formed in pyrogenic furnaces due to the swelling of super-melting clay raw materials. The material is considered moisture and frost resistant and does not ignite in a fire.

Large

Such expanded clay material is represented by a filler of arbitrary shape, in most cases angular. The size of the pebbles reaches 4 cm in diameter. Expanded clay crushed stone is obtained by crushing large pieces of expanded clay mass.

Scope of application of expanded clay fractions

Sand, the average value of which does not exceed 5 mm in diameter, is mainly used for interior decoration. This fraction of expanded clay is excellent for pouring cement floor screeds. A solution prepared with such material allows not only to level the surface, but also to insulate it. In addition, the material is used in the manufacture of various concrete products and is widely used in crop production as a drainage element. In addition, hydroponic systems are made from such filler.

A larger fraction of expanded clay (5 – 10 mm) is used to create a “warm” floor using German technology. It is used as backfill material for gypsum fiber sheets. In addition, the material is an excellent insulation material for facades. In this case, a truly unique technology is used: expanded clay is mixed with a small amount of cement material, the prepared mass is poured into the space between the load-bearing walls and the cladding layer. This method of insulation is called “capsimet”. It should be noted that if you are in doubt which fraction of expanded clay is best suited for pouring concrete products and structures, you can safely use this particular type of material.

Gravel material has a small bulk area, so it is recommended to use it when backfilling attics, basements, foundations, when it is necessary to install a fairly large layer of thermal insulation. This expanded clay is the best option for constructing a drainage system for planting trees and shrubs.

Expanded clay from the same group of medium and larger fractions (10 - 20 mm) is used as an insulating material for roofing structures, floors made of wood materials, and walls if they are built with well masonry. The material is indispensable for the construction of street water supply and sewer systems and other communication lines. By using expanded clay to insulate heating mains, you can be absolutely sure that heat loss will be minimal. In an emergency, you won’t have to spend a lot of time digging to find the leak.

Having successfully completed the repair work, you can always use expanded clay again, since it will not lose its properties even if it gets wet.

As builders note, sales volumes of expanded clay material are not much inferior to sales of more common building materials. The construction of a thermal insulation layer from it is considered the main, but by no means the last useful application because to the specified quality one can safely add reliable noise insulation. The “underlying” qualities of the material are also popular, so expanded clay fractions are quite suitable as a basis for concrete screed. In conclusion, we can add that today expanded clay material has a low cost, acceptable for any consumer.